Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX: Long Live the ’90s DSM
Back in the days of JNCO and Limp Bizkit, turbocharged 4G63s ruled the streets.
Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Eclipses and Eagle Talons ruled the streets. Known as DSMs, these monsters have largely disappeared from the American automotive landscape. Not everyone has forgotten, though, and a small but dedicated group of enthusiasts has kept the DSM dream alive.
In its heyday, the Mitsubishi 4G63 was one of the most feared powerplants on the street. Looking at this second-generation Eclipse GSX, it’s easy to see why. From the outside, this black Eclipse doesn’t look line anything special. It’s been lowered and it wears a set of aftermarket wheels, and the hood and front bumper are aftermarket pieces. The real giveaway is the bumper-exit exhaust.
That’s the only hint you’ll get that this monster is putting down over 800 horsepower to all four wheels. A built 2.3-liter stroker is fed by a massive BorgWarner EFR 9180 turbocharger. With the hood open, it’s an imposing presence in the engine bay for sure. The compressor measures a whopping 67-millimeter, and BorgWarner rates this turbocharger for applications up to 1,000 tire-shredding horsepower.
Hand Built Beast
What’s also on full display is the welding and fabrication skills of the Eclipse’s owner, Elliot. Elliot made the turbo manifold, coolant expansion tank, radiator piping, and charge pipes all by himself. While this isn’t a show car, it’s an impressive machine to behold. Elliot does good work.
According to Elliot, his Eclipse is pushing an impressive 34 PSI through those forged stroker internals. While DSMs have a reputation for unreliability, it’s not really the car’s fault. DSM owners like Elliot are always pushing their machines to the absolute razor’s edge of performance.
Given how responsive the almighty 4G63 is to upgrades, can you really blame them? A few windows, engine blocks and U-shaped connecting rods are a small price to pay for remarkably low quarter-mile ETs — and remarkably high trap speeds.
While DSMs are no longer as popular as they used to be, they’re still around — and still tremendously powerful. If you happen to come across one on the streets, tread carefully. You might end up getting eclipsed.
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